WATCH: Local women lifting records and medals

Thursday 04 July 2019

Medals, records and a Champion title... In just over a year, a team of newbie 'superwomen' with an ambition of becoming Jersey's first ever team of Olympic female weightlifters has accomplished a lot.

Charlotte Neale, Rachel Leck, Amy Moore, Rhea Munro and Sam Petrean started training in April 2018 as part of the ‘Power to Podium’ programme.

Launched by the Jersey Sport Foundation (JSF), the scheme aimed to prove that Jersey can produce athletes able to compete at high level with a good coaching environment and the right system behind the athletes.

For the past 12 months, they have been pumping iron regularly at the Foundation’s facility at Fort Regent, under the watchful eye of the coaches, which include Sam Morris and Jo Cabot. 

Video: The team has now been training for over a year.

Despite many of them being novices to the discipline of weightlifting, they have all accomplished impressive results.

“Like with all things, there’s ups and downs along the way, but we are producing really good results, getting athletes who have not necessarily come from big athletic backgrounds to learn to become athletes, to learn to commit to regular training sessions a week,” said John Scriven, Head of Services at JSF. “They’ve really knuckled down the goals and done very well so I’m pleased.”

Many of the girls on the team have already scored medals while competing in the UK but two of the teammates have really stood with their performances.

Charlotte was the first ever junior lifter to take part in the British Youth, Junior and Under 23 Weightlifting Championships last year. At only 14, she has just become a national champion in her category, breaking three national records for England.

Pictured: Charlotte Neale recently broke breaking three national records for England.

The young girl said she definitely did not expect breaking one record, let alone three. “I was quite surprised,” she said. “I was just training for PBs and then I didn’t even realise I broke a record. I was so excited! It was really good!”

“I wouldn’t believe it if I told myself a year ago, I would be doing that,” she added, before confessing she now has her eyes set on a clean and jerk record of 70 kilos. “I have done 74 in training,” she explained. “But training is obviously different to competition so hopefully I can get that too!” 

Rachel, who has cerebral palsy, was selected for the World Classic Bench Press Championship, an able-bodied competition, in May, just after taking second place in the British championship. 

“It was good to have that early on, just for the international exposure. It was like another level having all the countries there, all the athletes, all the coaches, seeing their dynamics and how they work. That was a lot different to what I’m used to, but it was good because it exposed me to it early.”

Pictured: Rachel Leck was asked to represent GB at the World Classic Bench Press Championship in Tokyo after taking second place in the British championships in February.

“Incredible results,” commented John, “To be honest I didn’t expect we would get anywhere quite near in our first year.

“The other girls have been doing really well as well and we’re looking at exciting things to get them qualified for national championships this year.”

“The first year of training has gone quite well,” added Rhea. “I’ve learned a lot. I had never lifted before, so I feel I’ve come quite a long way learning the technique. I’ve got a lot stronger than I thought I could.”

For their second year of training, the girls will be going to more specific weightlifting blocks and taking part in more advanced competitions on the national and regional level, rather than just club-based ones. 

“They’ll be out mixing with the bigger guns in the UK and I expect to see progress being made on their key performance across the next 12 months,” John explained. “In terms of where I expect them to be in three years out, they are exactly where they need to be so I’m very happy with the progress they are making albeit most of them will get frustrated at time.”

Pictured: The team recently welcomed some junior lifters.

While of some of the original lifters on the team have since left the programme, four juniors - Klaudia Derda, Helen Blackstone, Zana Jeacock-Fewtrell and Gabby Bradley - have recently joined it.

“We are planning for the future. It’s not just about the next Commonwealth games, it’s about lots of other national level competitions, international level competitions and future Commonwealth Games," John Scriven explained. "I’m hoping by bringing the youth through we will see some exciting future Power to Podium athletes once these guys have done what they need to do. 

“We have to lay the foundations so now I’m thinking five, 10 years ahead. We have seen the initiation of the Jersey Weightlifting Governing Body and the Jersey Weightlifting Club which will provide a clear pathway in to the Programme, so the future is even more exciting for 2022 and beyond."